The worker atop a painting cart smiled Thursday as he laid down new crosswalk lines atop an asphalt scar marking finished feeder main restoration on 16 Ave. N.W.
It heralded the gradual re-opening of 16 Ave. N.W. that’s been disrupted or closed for more than three weeks of repair activity, a prospect that brought a wave of relief to Montgomery-area businesses impacted.
“It’s been a journey, it’s been a struggle,” said Dilnaj Kullar, owner of the Bowness Bottle Depot.
He said the re-opening of a stretch of 16 Ave. in front of his business on Thursday morning brought an instant wave of business that had been choked off since the initial June 5 feeder main rupture up the street and magnified by the discovery of a series of vulnerable pipe spots, one of them almost directly in front of his shop.
“When they did open it, it was wonderful to see how many of our customers were here to support us – there must have been 15 cars,” said Kullar.
The road closure reduced his business by at least 60 per cent, he said, adding he’s asked city official for financial compensation.
“Give us a tax break or something, but they never brought it up,” said Kullar.
But he praised crews working to shore up the feeder mains lurking beneath the Trans Canada Hwy.
“The construction team was incredible, they worked so hard,” said Kullar.
Across the street, Jag Jot said business at his employer BK Liquor had been impacted “pretty big” by the closure, reduced by up to 70 per cent.
“It was gong show, people doing U-turns to get around and the city’s taken the longest time (to return normalcy),” said Jot.
“Only our regulars from Bowness and Montgomery would come.”
The prospect of a full re-opening of 16 Ave. brings a sense of relief, he said, though the sight of so many repair sites gives him pause.
“I hope another pipe break doesn’t happen,” said Jot.
Businesses impacted by the feeder main work shouldn’t expect to be compensated by the city, Sue Henry, head of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency, said earlier this week.
“We’re encouraging Calgarians, especially as the roads are scheduled to re-open, to go into Montgomery and Bowness to support the local businesses,” she said.
“At this time, we’re not considering any financial compensation.”
The owner of Allan’s Flowers at 16 Ave. and Home Rd. recalls water lapping at her business’s doorstep following the feeder main rupture just metres away on June 5.
“It definitely affected the walk-through clientele because people think you’re closed…some people have said they’ve avoided this area completely,” said Heather, who chose not to give her last name.
“(Compensation) would be nice but I don’t if you can do that.”
This month’s infrastructure woes are just the latest in the area since last winter, when there were three water main breaks, she said.
“I was completely out of water…it’s old infrastructure,” said Heather.
A few blocks away, Connor Kurucz said he’s looking forward to the barricades and detour signage coming down outside his workplace, Sports Rent.
“(The re-opening) sounds good to me – things have definitely slowed down because people are asking if we’re open and if that’s the case, a lot of people just aren’t coming,” he said.
But some detours on 16 Ave. to as far west as 46 Ave. remain until all repair work is completed, with traffic being diverted onto Bowness Rd.
And to accommodate the flushing of newly-repaired feeder mains into the Bow River, the Edworthy Park’s north parking will be closed and the riverside pathway there diverted.
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